Richard Linklater's fascination with suburban American youth is brought to the screen once again with this adaptation of Eric Bogosian's stage play. The story follows a group of unmotivated high school graduates who spend their days and nights getting drunk and hanging out in front of their... [More]

Richard Linklater's fascination with suburban American youth is brought to the screen once again with this adaptation of Eric Bogosian's stage play. The story follows a group of unmotivated high school graduates who spend their days and nights getting drunk and hanging out in front of their small town's local convenience store. Jeff (Giovanni Ribisi) is the cynical and bitter boyfriend of Sooze (Amie Carey), a performance artist who is planning on moving to New York City to escape the confines of Burnfield. Buff (Steve Zahn) is an energetic goofball who drinks and eats to excess along with Tim (Nicky Katt), an alcoholic ex-Marine living off checks from the government. One particular night, their former classmate Pony (Jayce Bartok) returns to the parking lot to hang out with the group. Pony has recently hit the big time as a successful musician, which sparks massive friction between the friends. At the same time, the convenience store's clerk, Nazeer (Ajay Naidu), has become fed up with their loitering, causing a confrontation that threatens to end the night in violence. Like DAZED AND CONFUSED and SLACKER, two other portraits of small town American life, Linklater creates a recognizable atmosphere that allows his actors to deliver Bogosian's lines with a realism that is poignant, humorous, and believable. [Less]